On Friday, March 11 the pupils of fourth class in St John’s National School in Cratloe, Ennis in Co. Clare re-enacted a play called ‘No Way Out’ in what has been described as a “very moving ceremony” in St John’s Church. The play was choreographed by Maura Kitching, with musical direction by class teacher, Bernadette…
The parish priest of the family who died when their car slipped off Buncrana pier said it was the “biggest tragedy” he has had to deal with in 43 years as a priest and the community has been numbed by shock. Sean McGrotty (46), his sons Mark (12) and Evan (8), his mother-in-law Ruth Daniels…
The Apostolic Nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown recently made a weekend visit to Killala parish in Co. Mayo. He celebrated the Saturday vigil Mass to a packed congregation in the parish church, assisted by Fr Michael Harrison PP and invited priests. This was followed by a social function in the local community centre, where students from…
Parish activity in public spaces can be a kind of “neutral ground” allowing Catholics to reconnect with the Church, a priest involved in a Tralee outreach exercise has said. ‘Mercy in the Square, Mercy in Manor’ saw priests from Tralee and neighbouring parishes, as well as Killarney’s Franciscan community spending six hours over last Saturday…
Increasing numbers of people in Ireland are developing diabetes, which is linked to our more sedentary lifestyle, writes Mags Gargan Diabetes is “a global pandemic,” according to Dr Aisling O’Leary, Lecturer in Pharmacy Practice at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI), which recently hosted a public health lecture on the ‘Rise and Rise…
Mags Gargan speaks to the National Director for Catechetics about her first year in the role There is a lot happening in the area of religious education in Ireland at the moment, so when Kate Liffey took the role of National Director for Catechetics early last year, in some ways she didn’t realise the challenge…
The Triduum celebration for the Year of Mercy in Enniscorthy Cathedral in Co. Wexford drew large numbers of people daily from all corners of the Diocese of Ferns. Organised by the Diocesan Pastoral Council, the celebration filled the cathedral every day for morning Mass and queues formed to receive the Sacrament of Confession, which was…
At the start of the month 5th and 6th class girls from St Joseph’s primary school, Templemore, Co. Tipperary along with their teacher Ms Greed, principal Ms Foley and chaplain Fr Dominic Meehan embarked on a ‘spiritual’ school tour to mark the jubilee Year of Mercy. The day began with 10am parish Mass at Holycross…
After 12 years as diocesan secretary in Limerick, Fr Paul Finnerty said his new appointment as Vice Rector of the Irish Pontifical College in Rome is “daunting” but “exciting”. One of his first challenges will be to learn Italian. “I will have to hit the books in a big way,” Fr Finnerty told The Irish…
A Columban missionary who was held for ransom by militants in the Philippines has raised doubts on reports that the leader of the kidnapper gang was killed by security forces at the weekend. Fr Michael Sinnott, originally from Co. Wexford, was snatched outside his house in Pagadian City in October 2009 and held hostage for…